My original plan was dinner at Au Pied Du Cochon (PDC), but unfortunately they didn’t have seats until 10:30pm. I was pretty disappointed and I was also pretty hungry since I was anticipating a rich and decadent Quebecois meal of foie gras overload for dinner. It seemed like nothing would satisfy that craving, and the bratty part of me almost wanted nothing for dinner if I couldn’t have PDC.

Being a tourist I was unfamiliar with the area, but I knew I was surrounded with restaurants. It was my last dinner in Montreal, so I didn’t want to risk picking a random restaurant and ending my culinary adventure on a mediocre or bad note.

I had a long list of restaurants I still wanted to try, but I had no idea where they were situated from where I was. So I started wandering the street aimlessly whimpering like a lost dog looking for food.

I was walking down a dark residential street with no destination in mind, and I was about to hail a taxi and head back to the hotel when I noticed this shady hole in the wall dive with people quickly coming and going. I thought it was some illegal operation, but the lights were too bright for shady business. I took a closer look from across the street and oh my gosh…

Could it be? Was it really he?

Yes, it was! Romados!

No Romados isn’t the guy you see coming out, but it’s the name of the place! Romados was actually on my original foodie itinerary and I had randomly found it! My trusted foodie friend who lived in Montreal recommended it. It was described as a take out hole in the wall serving Portuguese chicken at its finest. Seeing Romados was like a shining light!

Montreal has a much bigger Portuguese population than Vancouver and it even has a little Portuguese town, where Romados is to be found. I did take notice to the Portuguese restaurants and the several offerings for rotisserie chicken, so I actually wanted to try one before I left.

It operates as a take-out Portuguese bakery and also sells Portuguese charcuterie and cheeses, but be prepared to eat standing up, as seats are limited and tables are counter tops.

This was the only Portuguese chicken I tried in Montreal, but to be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was the winner. It’s apparently the “best in town” and all signs were pointing to “hidden gem” and “local favourite” as I witnessed a constant flow of locals lining up for chicken. It was a hole in the wall that you wouldn’t notice unless you were looking for it. I can’t say for certain, but Romados could likely be the Schwartz’s of Portuguese Chicken!

On the table:

I didn’t even know how to order and I literally just said “oui” to everything the butcher said. Chicken? Oui. Frites? Oui. Salad? Oui. And then I had my box.

I know, where’s the chicken?

Oh there it is! They pile a sick amount of greasy, delicious, well seasoned fries on top.

**¼ Chicken, Salad, Fries – 5/6

$8 (Portuguese bun included)

I’ve had better Portuguese chicken than this, but it was home made by a Portuguese family, so it doesn’t count and I still enjoyed this.

I’m going to take “authenticity” out of the equation and call it what it is. This was “gourmet Nando’s”, but way better!

I can’t get anything like this in Vancouver, so for me it was fast food at its best!

Upon ordering the butcher asked if I wanted spicy sauce (Piri Piri sauce) brushed on my chicken. I said “oui” and he ended up “drizzling” (more like drenching) the sauce all over my chicken. Ask for more if you can. It’s not spicy at all, but it’s good.

The Piri Piri sauce was orange and oily and it tastes like the rendered chicken fat and oils mixed with seasoning salt. It’s good especially with the fries. I like Nando’s Piri Piri sauce better and this just needed some spice.

The chicken is charcoal grilled in house daily and the bones snapped and it was cooked perfectly. It’s not actually “rotisserie”, but still delicious.

The chicken was quite plump and moist and so flavourful and tender and likely brined and marinated in lemon before being grilled.

The chicken skin wasn’t very crispy, but full of savoury flavours that was more than just salt.

The flavours was of seasoning salt, and it wasn’t apparent with any strong herbs or anything, although the base of it could have been tomato paste and/or paprika.

The chicken and sauce wasn’t that garlicky or spicy at all and I wanted more garlic and Piri-Piri sauce.

The only thing missing in this equation was spice, and if I had this chicken with the Nando’s Peri-Peri sauce I would have been on cloud 9.

If I lived in Montreal I would go back and order it again, and as a tourist I’d cram it in as a “snack” on the foodie itinerary.

Fries - 4.5/6

When I said “oui” to fries I didn’t know it was going to be enough for 4 people.

14 Comments

I love the chicken at Romados but I find it a bit pricey for fast food. I feel it is good but it’s getting such a good reputation right now that I feel it is overhyped and I have had better Portugese chicken at Piri Piri on Mount Royal street.

I agree the chicken at Romados is super moist, but damn the fries are way too salty. The portion is huge and this is a plate I would share with a friend so it becomes a good deal! Next time I go, i will ask for half portion fries and half salad so it can cut down on the saltiness.

Mijune you know there’s a way to get around the big lines at Romados. You can call in your order in advance, & when you get there you go to the much shorter separate call-in order line. You can technically call their chicken on the rotisserie(although I know what you mean when you say it’s not rotisserie), as they use a motorized contraption to charcoal grilled their chicken. On the weekends, they have some additional menu items(it’s written on the board in French).

Next time you go, you should try their portuguese egg tarts! The custard leans a little on the sweeter side, and it is but a little thick, HOWEVER, the shell is always crunchy even when they are cold…that altogether, it’s a 5/6!
Ya, those complimentary buns are not very good..much better when you toast them back home…or at the hotel!

Finally found you… almost makes me want to cry..
it has been 5 years sins ive been in Montreal and i still dream of this place…
i say it with confidence.. this is the best Grilled Chicken in the world..
i still dont know how the owners business didnt grow.. im sure the recipe is worth millions
i wish they grow and sale franchises.. because i would love to eat their food where ever i travel

+ a little advice.. dont forget to ask to add the spicy oily sauce on the fries… God i miss this place

Romados was damaged by a fire early-Saturday night(around 7pm ET). From what’s been reported so far here in Montreal, it doesn’t seem much serious damage(it didn’t burned down, & no one was injured). But serious enough that Romados was trending bigtime in Montreal tonight.

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